Matthews didn't practice all of last week with what coach Mike McCarthy said was knee soreness.

McCarthy said before practice Monday afternoon that Matthews' return to the field would be on a trial-and-error basis. It's unknown whether Matthews will play Green Bay's first preseason game Thursday night at the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.

Before his prolonged absence, Matthews had been working at inside linebacker as well as his natural spot on the outside.

Also Monday, the Packers had outside linebacker Mike Neal at practice for the first time in training camp. Neal had been on the physically unable to perform list after undergoing hernia surgery in the offseason.